If you follow these picks, you know I’ve been brutal — especially with some teams. Take our beloved state institution, Illinois.

I believed the Illini would start with a giant win over Kent State (wrong), figured they’d get crushed at Soldier Field by South Florida (nope) and took them plus 28 points at home against Penn State. They led 24-21 in the third quarter and then gave up the final 42 points in the baddest beat of the Big Ten season.

I properly predicted the big win over Rutgers and demolition at the hands of Purdue, but I thought the Illini would beat the 24-point spread at Wisconsin, keep it close at Maryland and fall to Minnesota. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. I’m 2-6 in Illini spread (non-FCS) games and fully expect to be 2-7 after Saturday.

Picks are against the spread (from VegasInsider.com consensus at 4 p.m. Thursday), and selections are in bold:

Ohio State (minus 3½) at Michigan State: Does revenge help a team win? Or at least beat a spread? We’ll find out. The Spartans should be frothing after getting whipped 48-3 by Ohio State last season. Take ’em.

Wisconsin (plus 9) at Penn State: Raise your hand if, a few months back, you envisioned this as a preview of the Big Ten championship game. (I’ll lower my arm now.) Both teams are licking wounds, and both starting quarterbacks might be sidelined. I’ll go with PSU.

Illinois (plus 17) at Nebraska: Can the Lovie train keep chugging after cranking out 430 rushing yards against the Gophers? As you read above, I have no idea. But I have to make a pick, so I’ll say yes to Reggie Corbin and the Illini.

Maryland (plus 2) at Indiana: It will be 15 days between games for the Hoosiers, who stumbled at the end of a Friday night loss at Minnesota before chilling last weekend. Will the rest lead to rust? Nah, I’ll take the Hoosiers at home.

Northwestern (plus 10½) at Iowa: The most confounding line of the week, if not the season. Iowa has lost two straight to disappear from the Big Ten West race. Northwestern has won nine straight outright against Big Ten West foes and can put a stranglehold on the division. And they’re getting 10½? What am I missing?

Michigan (minus 39) at Rutgers: At first I saw the over-under on this game (48½) and thought that was the line. Or maybe it’s the over-under for Rutgers’ total yards? Michigan will dominate, but maybe Jim Harbaugh will take it easy on his friends from New Jersey … who am I kidding? Still, I cannot pick a road team laying more than five touchdowns. Can’t do it! Take Rutgers.